Machine tool



R. L. KUEHN June 22, 1943.

MACHINE TOOL Filed July 14, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet l R. L. KUEHN MACHINE TOOL June 22, 1943.

Filed July '14, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Qw M MK V MH 0m 1% m r UVA 5.

RQL. KUEHN MACHINE TOOL June 22, 1943.

Filed July 14, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 0/20 A. him/2 Arrow/5 Patented June 22, 1943 UhliTED STATE S PAT ENT F F'l-CE.

MACHINE TOOL Raymond L. Kuehn, Hartford, Conn., assignor to The Billings & Spencer Company, a corporation of Connecticut Application July 14, 1941, Serial No. 402,303

6 Claims.

and, more particularly,.to provide such a machine having improved tool indexing mechanism on the longitudinal tool. carrier thereof, whereby the number of tools carried. on this carrier may be materially increased and these tools may be indexed into a plurality of operative positions. in such manner as materially to increase the field of usefulness of such machines. A further object of my invention is to provide turret mechanismof an improved construction and operated by improved mechanism inan improved manner as the longitudinal tool slide is operated. A still further object of my invention is to provide improved controlling mechanism whereby, while the turret mechanism is in operation and indexed as desired, the operation of thestockieeding and stopping mechanisms and of the forming toolsand cut-off tools is so controlled as to enable the same to operate in improved timed relation. with the multiple position. turret mechanism on the longitudinal tool carrier. Other objects and advantages of my improved constructionwill also hereinafter more fully appear;

In. the accompanying. drawings, I have shownfor purposes of illustrationone embodiment which my invention may assume in practice.

In these d-rawings- Figure l is a sideelevation of the illustrative machine; certain parts being broken away to facilitate illustration and the machine being showninfully retracted position of the longitudinal tool carrier;

. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine shown in- Figure 1, the stock feeding and gripping mechanism also beingbroken away to facilitate illustration;

. Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view on line3-3 of Figure2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detailside elevational view of the indexing mechanism shown irrFigure 1,. but at theforward limit. of its travel, certain parts also being shownin section;

Fig. 5 is a like view on a slightly larger scale, showing the indexing mechanism approaching the oppositelimit of its travel;

Fig. 6 is a section on line B6 of Figure 1, showing the clutch and controlling cam mechanism; V

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view on line '|--'I of Figure 2, of the operating mechanism for the clutch controlling cam;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail sectional view on 1ine-8--8 of Figure 3,, and

Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail of the lock open-- ating cam.

In this illustrative construction, I have shown my inventionas applied tense in. connection with awell-known form of two-at-a-time machine. such, for example. as that describedand claimed in the Elmer E. Kelley application, Serial. No. 364,533, filed November 6, 1940.. As. shown in that application, the machine. herein includes a plurality of parallel work rotating spindles I. having associated work gripping and feeding mechanism, generally indicated at. 2, and transverse tool slide mechanism, generally indicated at. 3",. and vertical cut-off mechanism, generally indicated at 4, all adapted to operate ina well-known. sequence and. to cooperate with. swinging stock stop arm mechanism 5. carriedon tubular drive shafting 6 from gearing in. a usual gear box 1,. while a longitudinally reciprocable tool carrier, generally indicated at 8,. is reciprocated in timed relation therewith by a rotatable main cam= 9 onthe machine frame cooperating with a usualroller 9a on the rear end of the carrier 8. improvements herein comprise improved multiple.v position double turret mechanism, generally indicated at H) and carried on the tool carrier 8, together with improved indexing mechanism. for this turret mechanism, and improved means which control the operation of the work gripping and feeding mechanism, the-transverse tool slide and the vertical cut off mechanisms relative to this indexing mechanism, all as. hereinafter more fully described.

Referring more particularly to the turret mechanism l0, it will be. noted that herein the longitudinal tool carrier 8 has an upstanding central. portion H- at its front end, and that the shafting 6 extends through and rotates freely inv a central aperture l2 in this portion. H; a. roller l3 herein being provided on. the outer tubular shaft I-4 and cooperating with a usual relatively stationary cam I5, herein carried on the. portion II, to effect oscillation of the stock stop 5' into and out of operative position in a usual manner. It will also be observed that this longitudinal tool. carrier 8 has upwardly extend.- ing journal supporting members I6 on its opposite ends spaced laterally from the portion I l on each side thereof andcooperating. therewith to provide journals for like turrets llonv opposite sides of the shafting 6. Herein, each of these turrets carries four. tools, three of which are diagrammatically indicated at l la', l 'I-b, and at wise as shown in Figure 9, in such manner as to permit the coiled spring 28 to seat the pin 26 the next notch as soon as the latter comes opposite the pin.

Cooperating with each of the above mechanisms for locking and unlocking the drums 21, is also improved clutch mechanism for each turret 5?; herein connected between each turret and improved indexing mechanism for the turrets hereinafter described. As shown, each shaft !8 has a reduced portion 125 on its outer extremity Herein, the turrets ii are maintained in their I various operative positions by improved cooperating braking and locking mechanisms automatically controlled as the turrets are moved reversely longitudinally on the longitudinal tool carrier 8. As shown, each shaft it has a locking and braking drum 2! fixed thereto outside the bearing 25, these drums being preferably keyed to the shafts, as at 22. Further, a concave brake shoe 23 acts upon the bottom of each drum 2i and is normally pressed into suflicient bra-king engagement therewith, herein by springs 24 carried on the longitudinal tool carrier 8, to tend to hold the drum and turret in their different desired positions while permitting movement by th indexing mechanism. As illustrated, each of these drums 2! is also provided with four radially located equally spaced notches 25 adapted to receive a locking pin or member 25 reciproca-' ble ina suitable bracket 21 on the carrier 8 and herein disposed angularly adjacent I the latter andthe brake shoe 23. Each locking pin 25 is normally 'projected'into locking position by a coiled spring 28 acting between the pin and an abutment 29 on the carrier Zl, While a bell crank lever'iiii, pivoted at 31 on a bracket 32 on the carrier frame", is operated to retract and release its locking pin 25. As shown, each lever 55 is alsoautomatically operated by engagement with a cam 55 mounted for limited rotation on a pin 34011 the top of anupstanding bracket adjustably mountedin guides 55 on a member 3! fixed to the stationary bed frame of the machine. Herein, this cam 33 has'on its top a semi-round surface58 movable freely by a like surface on an adjacent cooperating pin 39 parallel to the pin 34 and also carried by bracket 35, while the cam 33 also has a short fiat surface 5! below one end of'the surface 38,;and like oppositely disposed inclined faces 53,4 3 on the lower portion of the cam. Thus, the surface 4| is adapted to engage the pin 35 and'hold the cam 33 against counterclockwise rotation when the bell crank 35 moves rearwardly and the roller 42 on the upper arm of the bell crank then engages the sloping face 53, while clockwise rotation of the cam 33 is permitted when the bell crank is moving forward, since the roller 42 then engages the oppos'ite face 44. Accordingly, when the bell crank 55 is movable rearwardly with carrier 8 over the bed framathe roller 42 on the upper arm of the -bell crank will engage the cam surface t3, and due to the engagement of the fiat face 4! with the pin 59, the bell crank will be swung counterclockwise from the position shown in Figiire iin such manner as to retract the pin 25 as the roller 42 passes under the'cam 33; the pin then remaining retracted as its end rides over the surface of'the drum 2i between the notches 25 duuring the indexing of the turrets, hereinafter described. On the other'hand, when the bell Eirank 35 is moved forwardly with the longitudinal tool carrier 8, its roller 42 will passfreely under thecam 35, which'is than freeto rotate clockkeyed as at 45 to an inner clutch element 41.

Further, a spring pressed roller 55 movable in a tapered slot 49 in the periphery of the member 57 moves automatically into and out of clutching engagement with an outer clutch member 55, herein in the form of a turret indexing gear, as this gear 55 is rotated in opposite directions by the indexing mechanism as hereinafter described. Both the clutch members 5! and 55 are herein longitudinally positioned on the extremity 45 of the shaft by a collar 5i suitably fixed to the shaftv Thus, when the outer clutch member or gear 55 is rotated in a clockwise direction, this member 59 will be fixed to and rotate the cooperating clutch member 4?, and rotate with it the shaft i3 with its attached drum 2i and turret l'i, while when the gear 50 is rotated in the opposite direction, these clutch members will be dis connected in such manner as to enable the turret to be held stationary during this reverse rotation of the gear by the action of the looking pin 25 and shoe 23 on each drum 2l.

Operatively connected to each of the indexing gears 50 is improved operating and controlling mechanism therefor. Herein, this mechanism includes an upright toothed sector 52 having its upper toothed edge meshing with the teeth of the gear 50 and its lower end pivoted at 53 on a transverse axis directly below the axis of the shaft [8. As shown, this sector 52 is operated by a short rearwardly extending link 54 pivoted to the upper end of the sector at 55 and pivotally connected at its rear end by a pin 56 to an operating rod 51 longitudinally reciprocable in a bearing 58 carried on the longitudinal tool slide 8 and another rearwardly located bearing 59 carried on an adjustable bracket member 65 in rear of the bracket member 35,and similarly adjustable in the guides 36 on the stationary bed frame of the machine. As shown, this operating rod also has a reduced rear end carrying collars BI and 62 spaced therefrom and adapted respectively to engage a front flat face 63 and a like rear face 64 on the bracket 50 at the opposite limit of the travel of the operating rod 51 which also are the opposite limits of angular movement of the sector 52. Thus, with the turret and its associated operating mechanism in the forward, or' opera tive, position shown in Figure 4, as the main cam 9 acts on the roller Be on the carrier 8 to effect rearward reciprocation of the latter, and after the locking pin 26 has been withdrawn in the initial stages of this rearward movement (by the cooperation of the bell-crank lever .35 with the cam 33, which'is then held stationary), it. will be apparent that when the collar 6| strikes the abutment face 63 on the bracket 60, thetoothed sector 52 will be stopped, in such manner that as the cawiage i3 further rearwardly, the gear 5!] will be moved in a clockwise direction. Accordingly, through the connection of this gear to the clutch element 51 by the roller 48, a clockwise rotation of the turret [1 will be effected to- Ward the next operativeposition thereofythe parts being shown in Figure approaching this next operative position and with the pin 26 just about to drop into the next notch and it being understood that thepin will drop into this notch a the carrier 8 completes its rearward movement with the indexing gear traveling over the thenrelatively stationary sector 52. Moreover, when the direction of movement of the carrier 8 isreversed by the cam 9 and roller 9a, and the carrier 8 begins to move forward, the collar 62 will strike the abutment face 64 on the member 60, and the roller 48 of the clutch mechanism will be released to disconnect the elements 41 and 50 and the gear 50 will accordingly rotate freely relative to its shaft I8 and to the turret l1 until the indexing mechanism is returned to its forward; or operative, position shown in Figure 4.

Cooperating with theabove described mechanisms is also improved mechanism for timing the operation of the feeding and gripping mechanism 2; the transverse tool slide mechanism 3, and vertical cut off tool slide mechanisms 4, with the longit-udinal tool carrier 8, whereby, after two forward reciprocations of the tool carrier 8 and while the-third turret tool is operating on the work, the latter is formed by the tools on the slide 3 and after the completion of the work of the fourth turret tool, is cut off by the tools on slides 4, whereupon new lengths of stock are fed forward tobe operated on in the next cycle of the machine. Herein, this mechanism includes a clutch controlling the connection of adjacent parts 66, a of the middle tubular shafting, which operates the feeding and gripping, transverse tool slide, and cutting off mechanisms; while the stock rotating mechanism continues to be operated by the central shaft 61 and the outer tubular shaft [4 continues to be oscillated by its roller l3 and cam I5 relative to shaft 66 to swing the stock stop 5. As shown, a sleeve 68 is keyed for reciprocation on one part 66 of the tubular shaft and a sleeve 69 is suitably fixed to the other part 66 of the tubular shaft. Suitable cooperating teeth 10, 10a are also provided on adjacent portions ofthe sleeves 68 and 69, and a clutch shipper ll is carried on the sleeve 68 and shifts the latter longitudinally as desired to effect the connection or disconnection of these clutch teeth An operating member 12 for this shipper is also carried on two uprights 13 pivoted at their lower ends on a transverse axis, as at 14, on the stationary bed frame, so that as these uprights 13 are moved about their pivots 14, the clutch teeth 10, 10a are connected or disconnected. Herein also an arm 15 extends rearwardly from the shipper operating member 12 and has a roller 16 on its rear end received in a suitable cam track 11 in a rotating cam 18. The cam track 11 also has an offset 19 thereon of such length that the sleeve 63' is pulled forwardly to connect the clutch teeth 10, 16a and thereby render the gripping and feeding mechanism. 2, transverse tool slide mechanism 3, and vertical cut off mechanism 4 operative during only the operation of the last two tools. At the beginning of the operation of the third turret tool, the cam 18 begins to be operative as a result of its connection to a slotted spider 80 of a Geneva movement which is adapted to receive and cooperate with a projecting pin 8| fixed to and rotatable with the cam 9 and disposed over a cut away portion 82 in the front edge of that cam. This pin 8| being receivable successively in the slots 83 in the spider 80 and the slotted extremities of the member 80 being movable along the pin in the cut away portion 82, rotation of the cam 9 will thus rotate the member and the cam" 18- so that the roller 16 actuatingthe clutch shipper will move into-the offset portion 19 on the cam 18 during the operation of the third turret tool. As a result, the sleeve 68' is reciprocated to connect the clutch teeth 10', 10a and cause rotation of the forward portion 66' of the tubular drive shaft to effect operation of the cross slide 3 to form the work while th fourth tool on the turrets is operating on the work in the spindles I, and the cutting off tool 4 will be thereafter automatically operated to cut off thework, and the feeding and gripping mechanism 2' and the stock stop 5- will thereafter be operated to feed and stop the next length of stock ready for the cycle to be repeated.

In the operation of the complete machine; it will be understood that each turret IT occupiesthe position shown in Figure 4 as it moves forward with the carrier 8- to operate on the work in spindles I; the turrets then being held in. this operative position by their locking pins 26'. When the carrier 8 moves rearward, each looking pin 26' is first released through cooperation of its bell crank 30 with itscam 33, and thereafter when the collars 6| strike the abutments 63, the turrets ii are indexed in a clockwise di motion to present their next adjacent tools as these indexing gears 59 move over the toothed sectors 52, the clutch elements 41; 50 then be ing connected and the turrets p-asslngthrough the positions shown in Figure 5 and completing their movement of and being automatically locked by the pins 26 as the carrier 8 completes its rearward movement. As thecarrier 8 thereafter again moves forward, when the stop 62 strikes the abutment face 64, the clutch elements 4? and 50 are automatically released in such manner as to permit the return of the sectors 52 and indexing gears 58 to their initial positions while the turrets remain locked. During the first two cycles of the carrier 8-, i. e, while the first two tools are operating, the stock feeding and gripping mechanism 2, transverse slide 3 and cut off slides 4 remain stationary; the clutch teeth lll, Hm then being disconnected". However, at the beginning of the operation of thethird tools, i. e., as the carrier 8-mo-ves forward for the third time, the cam 18 operates upon the clutch shipper mechanism H to conmeet the clutch teeth 16, 10a, whereupon the transverse tool slide 3' begins its movement to form the work gripped in the spindles I and this movement of the slide 3 is followed by the operation of the cut off slides 4 in usual sequencetherewlth and in timed relation to the carrier 8 so that the work is cut ofi following the completion of the operation of the fourth turret tools. As the turret thereafter moves rearward, it is again indexed to present the first tools and as the carrier makes this last stroke, the work feeding and gripping mechanism 2 is operated in, its usual sequence with the transverse tool slides 3 and vertical cut off slides 4 so that stock isadvancedzinthe spindles Ictopresent new work to the first tools in the turrets. Further, it will be understood that as the carrier 8 moves forward, the stock stop arm 5 is automatically swung out of its stock stopping position before the first turret tools again come in contact with the new work; this stock stop being thus swung reversely each time that the carrier 8 moves forward and back, but performing no stock stopping function until the stock feeding and gripping mechanism 2 is operated in its sequence following the operation of the cut-off mechanisms 4.

In the operation of the machine, it will also b understood that the cam 9 makes one revolution for each complete reciprocation of the carrier 8 while the cam 78 is rotated through a quarter turn by eachrevolution of the drum. As a result, while the spindles are, as usual, rotated continuously, the transverse tool slide 3, cutting off tool slides 4, and feeding and gripping mechanisms 2 are operated only when the clutch teeth 10, 10a are connected, i. e., only during the last two complete reciprocations of the carrier 8, after remaining inoperative during the first two complete reciprocations of that carrier. Thus, the drum 9 not only controls the reciprocation of the carrier 8, but also, through the associated Geneva driven cam mechanism 18, controls the operation of the mechanisms 3, 4 and 2.

As a result of my improvements, it will be evident that the turrets l'l will be capable of performing as many operations on the Work as there are tools carried by the turrets, thereby materially increasing the field of usefulness of a machine of this type, while the number of tools may be further increased to six or eight, if desired. Further, it will be noted that through my improved controlling mechanism, the operations of the feeding and gripping mechanisms 2 and forming and cutting off mechanisms 3 and 4 are so controlled and timed in an improved manner as to mak this possible, these mechanisms being only operative after two tools on the turrets have completed their work. Thus, it is also made possible to apply my improvements to machines embodying such mechanism of standard form without change in these mechanisms. These and other advantages of my improvements will, however, be clearly apparent to those skilled in the art.

While I have in this application specifically described one embodiment which my invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that this form of the same has been shown for purposes of illustration, and that the invention may be modified and embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a turret indexing mechanism, a turret rotatable on a transverse axis and carrying a plurality of tools, a reciprocable carrier on which said turret is journalled and movable in planes arallel to said axis, a bed frame on which said carrier is reciprocable, a constantly operative brake carried on said carrier and operating on said turret beneath the latter, locking mechanism carried on said carrier beneath said turret including a locking pin biased to locking position and received in said turret in different indexed positions thereof, and means for controlling said pin including a pin operating lever carried on said carrier and lever operating cam means carried on said bed frame.

2. In a turret indexing mechanism, a reciprocable carrier, a bed frame on which said carrier ment relative to said gear during a portion of the movement of said carrier in one direction to effect rotation of said turret to present a new tool in operative position.

3. In a turret indexing mechanism, a reciprocable carrier, a bed frame on which said carrier is reciprocable, a multi-tool carrying turret on said carrier, and turret indexing mechanism including a toothed sector carried by said carrier, a cooperating gear carried by said turret, means for maintaining said sector against movement relative to said gear during a portion of the movement of said carrier in one direction to effect rotation of said turret to present a new tool. in operative position, and automatic clutch means between said gear and turret for enabling free movement of said sector i the opposite direction.

4.1n a turret indexing mechanism, a reciprocable carrier, a bed frame on which said carrier is reciprocable, a multi-tool carrying turret on said carrier, and turret indexing mechanism including a toothed sector carried by said carrier, a cooperating gear carried by said turret, and means for maintaining said sector against move-, ment relative to said gear during a portion of the movement of said carrier in one direction to efiect rotation of said turret to present a new tool in operative position, including cooperating stationary and movable stops on said bed frame and sector.

5. In a turret indexing mechanism, a reciprocable carrier, a bed frame on which said carrier is reciprocable, a multi-tool carrying turret on said carrier, and turret indexing mechanism including a toothed sector carried by.said carrier, a cooperating gear carried by said turret, and means for maintaining said sector against movement relative to said gear during reciprocation of said carrier to efiect rotation of said turret to present a new tool in operative position, including a rod extending rearwardly from said sector, a guide therefor carried on said bed frame, and cooperating stop means on said rod and guide.

6. In a turret indexing mechanism, a reciprocable carrier, a bed frame on which said carrier is reciprocable, a multi-tool carrying turret on said carrier, and turret indexing mechanism including a toothed sector carried by said carrier, a cooperating gear carried by said turret, means for maintaining said sector against movement relative to said gear during a portion of the rearward movement of said carrier to effect rotation of said turret to present a new tool in operative position, and clutch means between said gear and turret for enabling freev rotation of said gear relative to said turret while said carrier moves toward the work.

RAYMOND L. KUEHN; 

